Worst is yet to come: Find out how hot DFW will get this weekend

Hey Fort Worth, it's HOT!

It looks like that good 'ole Texas hot weather has arrived, with temperatures in the mid-nineties. Stay cool any way you can, like Paula Gallegos and her sleepy grandson Josue Rios, floating in Lake Worth.
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It looks like that good 'ole Texas hot weather has arrived, with temperatures in the mid-nineties. Stay cool any way you can, like Paula Gallegos and her sleepy grandson Josue Rios, floating in Lake Worth.
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Dr. Glenn Hardesty, an emergency department physician at Texas Health Prosper, advises those working outdoors to take a break every 30 minutes to cool off and rehydrate.

Hardesty also recommends limiting exposure to the heat during the middle of the day and checking on elderly family members since they are more vulnerable to the heat.

Many appeared to be taking that advice on Thursday. Crews that working on construction projects in the West 7th corridor had largely disappeared by mid-afternoon.

Some over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl limit the body’s ability to sweat, Hardesty said.

Delay walking your dog until sunset while we're in this midst of this heat wave. Those sidewalks are HOT! Our infrared thermometer measured 136 degrees this afternoon on the sidewalk. These temperatures are hot enough to burn Fido's paws. #TexasHeat#txwx#dfwwx#ctxwxpic.twitter.com/3jiaAZLrW5

“Under extreme conditions, it is possible ERCOT would need to take some extra measures to help maintain sufficient operating reserves,” said ERCOT spokeswoman Leslie Sopko. “However, there are several tools that can be deployed in this type of situation without resorting to rotating outages.”

Fans attending Texas Rangers games this weekend will probably be wishing the new retractable-roof Globe Life Field had already been completed. The night games Friday and Saturday will be rough enough. But on Sunday, the first pitch against the Cleveland Indians will be at 2:05 p.m.

“It’s going to be absolutely miserable,” Cain said. “You need to remember the temperature is recorded in the shade. If you’re in direct sunlight, add another 15 degrees.”

Then there’s the hardy souls who take part in the Dallas Off-Road Bicyle Association Judgment Day cycling event at Cedar Hill State Park that runs between 6 a.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday. Northeast of Dallas, there’s also the 100-mile Hell of the North Texas bike race on Sunday.

“It will still probably be around 102-103 degrees during the evening until the sun goes down,” Cain said.

If there’s a bit of good news, a break in the heat wave is on the horizon.

Dallas Ryan plays in the Trinity River at Panther Island Thursday afternoon. A new record of 108 degrees was set at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday.
David Kent
dkent@star-telegram.com

The high pressure system that has caused Texas to bake this week will start retreating westward early next week.

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A high number of traffic accidents and multiple house fires started by lightning were reported Tuesday morning amid heavy storms in the Fort Worth area. Storms and rain are in forecast again Wednesday morning.